USC Upstate Women’s Soccer Announces 2026 Schedule, First Under Head Coach Sam Odell
6/11/2026 3:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer
USC Upstate women's soccer has announced its 2026 schedule, featuring 17 regular-season matches as the Spartans begin their first campaign under head coach Sam Odell.
Odell, who was hired in December, brings a championship pedigree to Spartanburg. A two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion and an NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight qualifier, Odell is the fifth head coach of USC Upstate's Division I era and will be the youngest head coach by age in Division I in 2026.
The Spartans enter a new chapter after finishing the 2025 season with a 10-6-3 record and advancing to the Big South Championship match before falling in penalty kicks. Upstate will welcome well over 20 new players to the program ahead of the upcoming season.
"We are eagerly counting down the days until the 2026 schedule is finally upon us," Odell said. "It is packed with high-level competition and a variety of opponents that will provide different tests for our new, exciting group during the non-conference portion of the season.
"This schedule sets us up well as we delve into Big South play in the latter part of the fall season. We are looking to cultivate something special that this roster is absolutely capable of creating. I am looking forward to getting started with this group."
USC Upstate opens the fall on the road against Charleston on August 16. The Spartans make their home debut against Davidson on Aug. 20 at County University Soccer Stadium.
Upstate begins Big South Conference play at home against Radford on Sept. 19. The conference schedule includes four home matches and four road contests before the Spartans close the regular season at Gardner-Webb on Oct. 28.
Odell, who was hired in December, brings a championship pedigree to Spartanburg. A two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion and an NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight qualifier, Odell is the fifth head coach of USC Upstate's Division I era and will be the youngest head coach by age in Division I in 2026.
The Spartans enter a new chapter after finishing the 2025 season with a 10-6-3 record and advancing to the Big South Championship match before falling in penalty kicks. Upstate will welcome well over 20 new players to the program ahead of the upcoming season.
"We are eagerly counting down the days until the 2026 schedule is finally upon us," Odell said. "It is packed with high-level competition and a variety of opponents that will provide different tests for our new, exciting group during the non-conference portion of the season.
"This schedule sets us up well as we delve into Big South play in the latter part of the fall season. We are looking to cultivate something special that this roster is absolutely capable of creating. I am looking forward to getting started with this group."
USC Upstate opens the fall on the road against Charleston on August 16. The Spartans make their home debut against Davidson on Aug. 20 at County University Soccer Stadium.
Upstate begins Big South Conference play at home against Radford on Sept. 19. The conference schedule includes four home matches and four road contests before the Spartans close the regular season at Gardner-Webb on Oct. 28.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time | Notes |
| Aug. 16 | Charleston | Away | 7 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Aug. 20 | Davidson | Home | 6 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Aug. 23 | Charlotte | Away | 6 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Aug. 30 | Hampton | Home | 7 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Sept. 3 | Wofford | Away | 6 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Sept. 6 | Eastern Kentucky | Away | 1 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Sept. 10 | Furman | Away | 7 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Sept. 13 | Queens | Away | 1 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Sept. 19 | Radford | Home | 7 p.m. | Big South |
| Sept. 23 | Charleston Southern | Away | 3 p.m. | Big South |
| Sept. 26 | Longwood | Away | 2 p.m. | Big South |
| Sept. 30 | Presbyterian | Home | 7 p.m. | Big South |
| Oct. 3 | Winthrop | Home | 3:30 p.m. | Big South |
| Oct. 10 | High Point | Away | 4 p.m. | Big South |
| Oct. 17 | UNC Asheville | Home | 7 p.m. | Big South |
| Oct. 21 | South Carolina State | Home | 7 p.m. | Non-Conference |
| Oct. 28 | Gardner-Webb | Away | 7 p.m. | Big South |
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